Friday, December 4, 2015

the story gets serious ...

I'd say I've been feeling my age this week, but actually I have been feeling this woman's age

(although she can thread a damn needle and I can't seem to make a jump ring without dropping the wire even though I treated myself to two brand new pliers for my busy season and a tabletop magnifier although maybe that doesn't count since I have never actually attached it to the tableand just keep pushing the box with my foot when it wanders too close to my chair)

OK- so here's the stuff to finish up the weekly forecast.

There is potential for violence and danger when Mars (war, action, initiation) engages either Pluto (power, control, destruction, rebirth) or Uranus (rebellion, sudden upheaval, revolution) and Mars has been and continues to engage both.

On Sunday, Mars square with Pluto is exact. Mars/Pluto is aggression, bullies, force. With Mars (Scorpio ancient ruler) in Libra (ruled by Venus) and Venus in Scorpio - although both planets are in spaces where they are not so comfortable and usually not as powerful, they are strengthened by each other now. For better or worse. It's important for us to make conscious choices and take conscious actions. And next week we have Mars opposing Uranus retrograde in Aries. Mars/Uranus is accidents, explosiveness, hair trigger tempers - combine it with Pluto and we get riots, mobs, things out of control. Nobody wants to be subservient anymore. Nobody wants to be ignored. There is righteous anger here. Mars in Libra can offer up manipulation, jealousy and insecurity. Dangerous weather.

(if you were on a boat I would suggest dry land and a trip to the local pub - actually avoid the pub, too)

Snooze buttons are turned off. We're awake now, right? This is a time for real heroes (not action figure heroes, truly we need less action and more kindness and compassion) and for togetherness. It's really not us against them - there really is only us.

Since Mars will be retrograde for many months in 2016 we really want to be in a better space before we start backtracking and doing this all over again. One of my first astrology teachers (in the early 90's) said the 2010's would be like the 1960's married the American Revolution. It had all sounded so exciting back then and almost romantic. I had imagined a pot smoking Thomas Jefferson with flowers in his hair and the Beatles riding through the streets on horseback carrying muskets and proclaiming "the British are coming" ... uh, not so much ....

There are ways to make productive use of this energy though. So, we'll find them. If we are facing a challenge, Mars/Pluto will bring us the strength, willpower and courage to overcome great obstacles. Just don't take this too far - there is the potential to get hurt or hurt others.
Mars/Pluto canbe the catalyst we need to get us "unstuck". It's very good energy to restore or rehabilitate older, previously strong structures (yes, including ourselves!).

Mars/Uranus gives us the courage to address inequality. It shows us we do not always have to do things the way we have done them in the past. New actions get momentum with this. The momentum creates freedom. Mars/Uranus brings us the courage to change.

And remember, we have the beautiful Sagittarius Sun in the middle of this - illuminating the good stuff if we take the time to look, the higher wisdom, the bigger perspective.

Truly, I think humanity has always struggled with the same problems we face today. What made the past different was just far fewer numbers and smaller scale. We made all the same mistakes then that we make now, but our errors carried less cumulative impact.

The past is important (although I doubt earliercultures were appreciably more moral or ethical than ours- probably more was just hidden out of sight). A rear-view mirror is essential for safely driving forward.

But we can't move ahead looking backward. And we have to move ahead. There is no option to go back. We burned that bridge.

This weekend be safe. Stay away from fire (no actual bridge burning, please). Watch your temper. Give other people space. Be civil. Be kind. This would be a good time to practice gratitude for what we have. Neptune and Chiron in Pisces asks us to hold our hands and arms wide open to gather what comes and allow for those things that are leaving to slip away; to love our life as it changes .... so here we go. xo all

"This is a time for real heroes (not action figure heroes, truly we need less action and more kindness and compassion) and for togetherness. It's really not us against them - there really is only us."

Cat, you hit the nail on the head again. ☺

This reminds me of something I've observed lately on social media.

I know everyone has seen someone post or share posts that finger-point and insult those who do not identify with the poster's beliefs or perspective. Unfortunately, this is all too common.

It's easy to feed into the 'us vs. them' dichotomy. Labeling some other person or group as THE PROBLEM safely separates one's own life and values from the complicated troubles of our world.

But lately I've noticed a push back against the vitriol.

People are fed up with this climate of blame, and they are tired of being stuck in quagmires of hate. Some have decided to drop out of social media, while others have started to actively advocate for cooperation and compassion.

There seems to be this growing awareness that fear is an illusion, nothing more.

And I'm not talking about a Pollyanna-ish mindset either. Danger is certainly real, but danger can also be managed.

It's more the understanding that no single group or ideology is wholly to blame for the state of the world, nor can one group fix things. We have to work together.

To me, that's a very courageous stance to take...and one that's fraught with a lot of uncertainty too.

Has anyone else observed this?

I hope this Mars/Pluto energy supports those who are trying to get themselves unstuck, and Mars/Uranus gives them the tenacity to see it through.

The post above by HCRenwick is worthy of an entire blog entry. It's perfect in every way and to answer her/your question at the end, 'Has anyone else observed this?', let me say that I have not only observed it, I am living it. This past week I have stopped 'following' a lot of my Facebook friends. Oh, we're still 'friends' but I no longer have to read the vitriol in their ridiculous memes, which anyone with an ounce of computer skills can create. I spoke with my DIL and she has done the same thing as have a number of my real friends - you remember those folks? The ones you actually talk to and see on a semi-regular basis? Physically present, real world people?

I fear that our obsession with instant access to what we think is news is more harmful than valuable. We attach to snippets of information that mirror our own vaporous beliefs and don't stop to consider whether the information is true or whether it benefits us in some tangible way. Am I the only person who was in college in 1970 and recalls having serious conversations over coffee and tea and clove cigarettes in smoky coffeehouses where we conversed with each other and exchanged ideas? We didn't form opinions by reading what one of our 4,359 Facebook friends said - we discussed books and newspapers we read, lectures we attended, experiences shared by others, and that's how we learned what was true for us.

I view it all today as poison. None of these memes and non-information posts really affect me in a personal day-to-day way. I still go about my business solving the same problems, paying the same bills, mowing the same grass, shoveling the same snow, and on and on. What we see in the tv in far away places didn't used to bother us much less interest us. But now we are intimate with all of that. We can't shut it off yet we can do little or nothing about any of it. It's best to let it go. Shouldn't we be taking care of each other? We are suffering from too much information, none of it valuable. Quit feeding the bear.

Here in Nebraska we have the only unicameral legislature in the United States. Once members of the legislature are elected, they become one. No Democrat, no Republican, all one. Not that Nebraska doesn't have it's problems but all of those folks are working as one to solve the issues facing the State. Wouldn't that be nice in the US Senate and HR for a change? All speaking with one voice?

As usual I love that picture. A blog that I follow asked what my essential, can't live without, tool is. Easy decision my lighted magnifying glass.

It is the season for joy. I no longer give (small lie) or get presents which makes it easy to find contentment even if I am still too busy. I have been hearing the word gratitude bandied about quite a lot lately- maybe it is a hint. This Thanksgiving instead of saying what we are grateful for my Mom requested that we say who we are thankful for. She then shared a nice local article from someone who was grateful for lots of things including the scent of gardenias. The small things really do count especially when we take the time to appreciate them.

Such excellent comments - thank you everyone. "Labeling some other person or group as THE PROBLEM safely separates one's own life and values from the complicated troubles of our world." I totally agree and also that we are starting to move past this although Uranus conjuncts Eris in 2016, starting in June for 9 months, has an aspect of 'witch hunt' or 'scapegoat' or 'the outsider' to it. Yes, I agree people are fed up with blame which leads some to blaming the victim and others who are more awake to looking past the idea of blame all together. So, well written - the 'fear is an illusion' reminds me of my favorite lesson from the course in miracles -

Lynn- "We didn't form opinions by reading what one of our 4,359 Facebook friends said - we discussed books and newspapers we read, lectures we attended, experiences shared by others, and that's how we learned what was true for us." this reminds me I just read that studies are showing Facebook works in the positive when we post and in the negative when we peruse (depression) - which is what I usually do, hmmm. "Shouldn't we be taking care of each other? We are suffering from too much information, none of it valuable. Quit feeding the bear." so good ....

Kathy, I usually wear magnifying glasses and challenge myself with bad lighting ... love your mom's idea of saying who we are thankful for - going to do that on Christmas Eve, now did you say your mom?! :) ...yes, I agree about the small things, the things that fill our days ... xo

I am a mad scientist jewelry maker, dumpster diver and armchair astrologer embracing this magical journey with an open and grateful heart at the beautiful Jersey Shore - no, I can't hook you up with Bruce or Snooki ... Olive is usually free though.